Pixel-controlled led light string and method of operating the same

ABSTRACT

A pixel-controlled LED light includes a plurality of LED modules and a controller. Each LED module includes at least one LED and a LED drive apparatus. The LED drive apparatus burns an ordinal number according to connection sequence thereof. The controller defines the ordinal number of the LED module as a target number, and sequentially transmits a plurality of light mode data whose number is greater than or equal to the target number to each of the LED modules. Each of the LED drive apparatuses sequentially receives each of the light mode data and counts sequence of the light mode data. If the sequence of the light mode data is equal to the ordinal number of the LED drive apparatus, the LED drive apparatuses identify the light mode data, and after identifying the light mode data, the LED drive apparatuses control the corresponding at least one LED.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending applicationSer. No. 16/543,971, filed on Aug. 19, 2019, which is acontinuation-in-part application Ser. No. 16/237,045, filed on Dec. 31,2018, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/629,014, filed on Jun. 21, 2017, which is a continuation-in-partof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/521,118, filed on Oct. 22, 2014.The entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a LED light and a method of operatingthe same, and more particularly to a pixel-controlled LED light stringand a method of operating the same.

Description of Related Art

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and do not necessarily constituteprior art.

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and do not necessarily constituteprior art.

Since light-emitting diode (LED) has the advantages of high luminousefficiency, low power consumption, long life span, fast response, highreliability, etc., LEDs have been widely used in lighting fixtures ordecorative lighting, such as Christmas tree lighting, lighting effectsof sport shoes, etc. by connecting light bars or light strings inseries, parallel, or series-parallel.

Take the festive light for example. Basically, a complete LED lampincludes an LED light string having a plurality of LEDs and a drive unitfor driving the LEDs. The drive unit is electrically connected to theLED light string, and controls the LEDs by a pixel control manner or asynchronous manner by providing the required power and the controlsignal having light data to the LEDs, thereby implementing variouslighting output effects and changes of the LED lamp.

In the current technology, in order to drive the LEDs of the LED stringvariously lighting, the LEDs have different address sequence data. TheLEDs receive light signals involving light data and address data. If theaddress sequence data of the LEDs are the same as the address data ofthe light signals, the LEDs light according to the light data of thelight signals. If the address sequence data of the LEDs are differentfrom the address data of the light signals, the LEDs skip the light dataof the light signals.

At present, the methods of sequencing the LEDs of the LED string aremostly complicated and difficult. For example, before the LEDs areassembled into the LED string, different address sequence data need tobe burned for each of the LEDs. Thereafter, the LEDs are sequentiallyplaced and assembled into the LED string according to the addresssequence data. If the LEDs are not sequentially assembled in accordancewith the address sequence data, the diverse illumination of the LEDscannot be correctly achieved.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a pixel-controlled LEDlight string to solve the above-mentioned problems.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the pixel-controlled LEDlight string includes a plurality of LED modules and a controller. Theplurality of LED modules are electrically connected to each other. EachLED module includes at least one LED and a LED drive apparatus withburning function. The LED drive apparatus is coupled to the at least oneLED and the LED drive apparatus burns an ordinal number according toconnection sequence of the LED drive apparatus. The controller iselectrically connected to the LED modules. The controller defines theordinal number of the LED module as a target number for charging a lightmode of the LED module, and sequentially transmits a plurality of lightmode data whose number is greater than or equal to the target number toeach of the LED modules. Each of the LED drive apparatuses sequentiallyreceives each of the light mode data and counts sequence of the lightmode data, if the sequence of the light mode data is equal to theordinal number of the LED drive apparatus, the LED drive apparatusesidentify the light mode data, and after identifying the light mode data,the LED drive apparatuses control the corresponding at least one LED.

In one embodiment, each LED module includes a positive power end and anegative power end, and a data signal end. The data signal ends of theplurality of LED modules receive the plurality of light mode data. Thepositive power ends of the plurality of LED modules are connected toeach other and receive a positive power provided from the controller.The negative power ends of the plurality of LED modules are connected toeach other and receive a negative power provided from the controller.

In one embodiment, each LED module includes a positive power end and anegative power end, and a data signal end. The data signal ends of theplurality of LED modules receive the plurality of light mode data. Thepositive power end of the first LED module receives a positive powerprovided from the controller and the negative power end of the last LEDmodule receives a negative power provided from the controller, and theremaining LED modules are coupled in series by connecting the positivepower end of the latter to the negative power end of the former.

In one embodiment, the controller is configured to generate a workingvoltage and transmit the light mode data to each of the LED modules bychanging magnitude of the working voltage.

In one embodiment, the controller is configured to control a voltagedrop of the working voltage is less than a low-level voltage andtransmit the light mode data to the LED modules.

In one embodiment, the number of the light mode data is equal to thenumber of the LED modules.

In one embodiment, the number of the light mode data is equal to themaximum ordinal number of the LED modules that need to be changed theirlight modes.

In one embodiment, the LED modules that need to be changed their lightmodes are configured to receive different light mode data, the samelight mode data, or a specific light mode data.

In one embodiment, the light mode data has an end code or has a startcode and an end code.

In one embodiment, each of the LED drive apparatuses is burned by acontact burning or a non-contact burning.

Accordingly, the pixel-controlled LED light string is provided torealize the burning manner without address data only by counting theordinal number to acquire the light mode data so that the LEDs of theLED modules can be also correctly controlled.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method ofoperating a pixel-controlled LED light string to solve theabove-mentioned problems.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the method of operatingthe pixel-controlled LED light string is provided. The pixel-controlledLED light includes a plurality of LED modules and a controller. Each LEDmodule includes at least one LED and a LED drive apparatus with burningfunction, and the LED drive apparatus burns an ordinal number accordingto connection sequence of the LED drive apparatus. The method includesthe steps of: defining, by the controller, the ordinal number of the LEDmodules as a target number for changing a light mode of the LED module,and sequentially transmitting a plurality of light mode data whosenumber is greater than or equal to the target number to each of the LEDmodules, sequentially receiving, by the LED drive apparatuses, each ofthe light mode data and counting sequence of the light mode data,identifying, by the LED drive apparatuses, the light mode data if thesequence of the light mode data is equal to the ordinal number of theLED drive apparatus, and controlling, by the LED drive apparatuses, thecorresponding at least one LED.

In one embodiment, each LED module includes a positive power end and anegative power end, and a data signal end. The data signal ends of theplurality of LED modules receive the plurality of light mode data. Thepositive power ends of the plurality of LED modules are connected toeach other and receive a positive power provided from the controller.The negative power ends of the plurality of LED modules are connected toeach other and receive a negative power provided from the controller.

In one embodiment, each LED module includes a positive power end and anegative power end, and a data signal end. The data signal ends of theplurality of LED modules receive the plurality of light mode data. Thepositive power end of the first LED module receives a positive powerprovided from the controller and the negative power end of the last LEDmodule receives a negative power provided from the controller, and theremaining LED modules are coupled in series by connecting the positivepower end of the latter to the negative power end of the former.

In one embodiment, the controller is configured to generate a workingvoltage and transmit the light mode data to each of the LED modules bychanging magnitude of the working voltage.

In one embodiment, the controller is configured to control a voltagedrop of the working voltage is less than a low-level voltage andtransmit the light mode data to the LED modules.

In one embodiment, the number of the light mode data is equal to thenumber of the LED modules.

In one embodiment, the number of the light mode data is equal to themaximum ordinal number of the LED modules that need to be changed theirlight modes.

In one embodiment, the LED modules that need to be changed their lightmodes are configured to receive different light mode data, the samelight mode data, or a specific light mode data.

In one embodiment, the light mode data has an end code or has a startcode and an end code.

In one embodiment, each of the LED drive apparatuses is burned by acontact burning or a non-contact burning.

Accordingly, the method of controlling the pixel-controlled LED lightstring is provided to realize the burning manner without address dataonly by counting the ordinal number to acquire the light mode data sothat the LEDs of the LED modules can be also correctly controlled.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the present disclosure as claimed. Otheradvantages and features of the present disclosure will be apparent fromthe following description, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The present disclosure can be more fully understood by reading thefollowing detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made tothe accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a pixel-controlled LED lightstring according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a three-wire LED module according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a schematic top view of a package structure of the three-wireLED module according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a block circuit diagram of a plurality of three-wire LEDmodules coupled in parallel according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a block circuit diagram of a plurality of three-wire LEDmodules coupled in series according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a schematic waveform of a working voltage for thepixel-controlled LED light string according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of operating the pixel-controlled LEDlight string according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe thepresent disclosure in detail. It will be understood that the drawingfigures and exemplified embodiments of present disclosure are notlimited to the details thereof.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a schematic block diagram of apixel-controlled LED light string according to the present disclosure.The pixel-controlled LED light string 100 is a two-wire structure, andthe pixel-controlled LED light string 100 includes a plurality of LEDmodules 10 and a controller 20. The LED modules 10 are electricallyconnected to each other. The controller 20 includes a power conversioncircuit (not shown) and a control circuit (not shown), i.e., the powerconversion circuit and the control circuit may be integrated into thecontroller 20. Specifically, the controller 20 may be implemented by aphysical circuit control box including the power conversion circuit andthe control circuit. The power conversion circuit receives an AC powersource Vac and converts the AC power source Vac into a DC power source.The control circuit receives the DC power source to supply the requiredDC power for the control circuit and the pixel-controlled LED lightstring 100.

Each of the LED modules 10 includes at least one LED 11 and a LED driveapparatus with burning function 12 (hereinafter referred to as LED driveapparatus 12). Each LED module 10 shown in FIG. 1 has three LEDs 11involving three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). TheLED drive apparatus 12 is coupled to the at least one LED 11 and the LEDdrive apparatus 12 burns an ordinal number according to connectionsequence thereof, and the detailed description will be made hereinafter.In one embodiment, each of the LED modules 10 is a LED module havingdata burning function, and therefore each of the LED modules 10 has owndigital and analog circuits for burning light data and sequence (ordinalnumber) data.

The control circuit of the controller 20 can receive external lightcontrol data through a wired manner or a wireless manner as well as readinternal light data stored inside the control circuit so that thecontrol circuit can control each of the LED modules 10 of thepixel-controlled LED light string 100 according to the content of thelight control data. For example, the user may operate a computer throughthe wired manner to transmit the light control data to the controlcircuit so that the control circuit controls the LED modules 10according to the light control data. Alternatively, the user may operatea mobile phone or a wearable device through the wireless manner totransmit the light control data to the control circuit so that thecontrol circuit controls the LED modules 10 according to the lightcontrol data. However, the present disclosure is not limited by theabove-mentioned manners of transmitting the light control data and thedevices operated by the user.

Please refer to FIG. 2A, which shows a three-wire LED module 10according to the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2A, the three-wireLED module 10 has three ends, including a positive power end V+, anegative power end V−, and a data signal end S_(D).

Please refer to FIG. 2B, which shows a schematic top view of a packagestructure of the three-wire LED module according to the presentdisclosure. The LED drive apparatus 12 is disposed/mounted on a firstplate 71, such as but not limited to a welding plate, and the three LEDs11 are disposed/mounted on a second plate 72 (not labeled). The threeLEDs 11 are electrically connected to the LED drive apparatus 12 by awire bonding manner. In this embodiment, the data signal end S_(D) isprovided from the first plate 71, the positive power end V+ is providedfrom the second plate 72, and the negative power end V− is provided froma third plate 73, thereby forming the LED module 10 with the three-wirestructure. However, the positions of the positive power end V+, thenegative power end V−, and the data signal end S_(D) are not limited asshown in FIG. 2B, that is, the positive power end V+ may be providedfrom the third plate 73 and the negative power end V− may be providedfrom the second plate 72.

Please refer to FIG. 3A, which shows a block circuit diagram of aplurality of three-wire LED modules coupled in parallel according to thepresent disclosure. As mentioned above, the controller 20 receives theAC power source Vac and converts the AC power source Vac into the DCpower source. The positive output of the DC power source is providedfrom a positive power end P+ of the controller 20 and the negativeoutput of the DC power source is provided from a negative power end P−of the controller 20. Further, the controller 20 provides/transmits aplurality of light mode data from a data end DT. In theparallel-connected structure, these positive power ends V+ of theplurality of LED modules 10 are coupled to the positive power end P+ ofthe controller 20, these negative power ends V− of the plurality of LEDmodules 10 are coupled to the negative power end P− of the controller20, and these data signal ends S_(D) of the plurality of LED modules 10are coupled to the data end DT of the controller 20 and receive theplurality of light mode data provided from the controller 20 through thedata end DT.

Please refer to FIG. 3B, which shows a block circuit diagram of aplurality of three-wire LED modules coupled in series according to thepresent disclosure. In the series-connected structure, these data signalends S_(D) of the plurality of LED modules 10 are coupled to the dataend DT of the controller 20 and receive the plurality of light mode dataprovided from the controller 20 through the data end DT. The positivepower end V+ of the first LED module 10 is coupled to the positive powerend P+ of the controller 20, the negative end V− of the last LED module10 is coupled to the negative power end P− of the controller 20, and theremaining LED modules 10 are coupled in series by connecting thepositive power end V+ of the latter to the negative power end V− of theformer.

The LED modules have physical electrical connections when the LEDmodules 10 are assembled, but the LED modules 10 have not been numbered.Therefore, the LED drive apparatuses 12 with burning function are usedto burn the ordinal number to number the LED modules 10 so that thesequence of the LED modules 10 of the assembled pixel-controlled LEDlight string 100 is clearly defined. For example, it is assumed that thenumber of the LED modules 10 is 50 and the 50 LED modules 10 areconnected in series. Therefore, the ordinal number of the LED driveapparatus 12 of the 1st LED module 10 is 1, the ordinal number of theLED drive apparatus 12 of the 2nd LED module 10 is 2, and so on.Finally, the ordinal number of the LED drive apparatus 12 of the 50thLED module 10 is 50. Accordingly, each LED module 10 has its own uniqueidentification ordinal number after the ordinal numbers of the LEDmodules 10 are defined. Specifically, each of the LED drive apparatuses12 can be burned by a contact burning or a non-contact burning.

Afterward, the controller 20 defines the ordinal number of the LEDmodules 10 which need to be changed their light modes as a targetnumber, and sequentially transmits light mode data whose number isgreater than or equal to the target number to each of the LED modules10. For convenience of explanation, the following description will bemade by taking examples.

In the present disclosure, there are two specific embodiments, which arerespectively described below.

The first embodiment: the controller 20 sequentially transmits aplurality of light mode data whose number is greater than the targetnumber to each of the LED modules 10 such as that the controller 20sequentially transmits the plurality of light mode data whose number isequal to the number of the LED modules 10. For example, it is assumedthat the number of the LED modules 10 is 50, and the controller 20sequentially transmits the plurality of light mode data whose number is50. Moreover, it is assumed that the LEDs 11 in the 35th LED module 10need to be changed their light modes from a light mode A (for example,it is continuously bright) to a light mode B (for example, it isflickering), and therefore the target number is 35. Therefore, thecontroller 20 transmits the light mode data whose number is 50 (that isgreater than the target number=35) at once. As shown in table 1, thefirst row of the table 1 shows the ordinal number of the LED driveapparatus 12, i.e., the sequence of the LED modules 10 and the sequenceof the light mode data. The second row of the table 1 shows the lightmode data before change of the LEDs 11, in which “A” represents thelight mode A, “B” represents the light mode B, and so on. The third rowof the table 1 shows the light mode data after change of the LEDs 11.

The LED drive apparatuses 12 sequentially receive the light mode datafor counting, i.e., each of the LED drive apparatus 12 sequentiallyreceives each of the light mode data and counts sequence of the lightmode data. If the sequence of the light mode data meets (is equal to)the ordinal number of the LED drive apparatus 12, the LED driveapparatuses 12 identify the light mode data. After identifying the lightmode data, the LED drive apparatuses 12 control the corresponding LEDs11.

If the sequence of the light mode data is 1 and the corresponding lightmode A is transmitted to the 1st LED module 10 (i.e., the ordinal numberis 1), the 1st LED drive apparatus 12 identifies the light mode datasince the sequence of the light mode data meets (is equal to) theordinal number (=1) of the 1st LED drive apparatus 12. At thiscondition, the light mode A is identified, and then the 1st LED driveapparatus 12 controls the LEDs 11 of the 1st LED module 10 to workaccording to the light mode A.

Afterward, the sequence of the light mode data is 1 and thecorresponding light mode A is transmitted to the 2nd LED module 10, andthe sequence of the light mode data is 2 and the corresponding lightmode B is transmitted to the 1st LED module 10. For the 2nd LED module10, the 2nd LED drive apparatus 12 does not identify the light mode dataand does not control the LEDs 11 of the 2nd LED module 10 since thesequence (=1) of the light mode data does not meet (is not equal to) theordinal number (=2) of the 2nd LED drive apparatus 12. Simultaneously,for the 1st LED module 10, the 1st LED drive apparatus 12 does notidentify the light mode data and does not control the LEDs 11 of the 1stLED module 10 since the sequence (=2) of the light mode data does notmeet (is not equal to) the ordinal number (=1) of the 1st LED driveapparatus 12.

Afterward, the sequence of the light mode data is 1 and thecorresponding light mode A is transmitted to the 3rd LED module 10, thesequence of the light mode data is 2 and the corresponding light mode Bis transmitted to the 2nd LED module 10, and the sequence of the lightmode data is 3 and the corresponding light mode A is transmitted to the1st LED module 10. For the 3rd LED module 10, the 3rd LED driveapparatus 12 does not identify the light mode data and does not controlthe LEDs 11 of the 3rd LED module 10 since the sequence (=1) of thelight mode data does not meet (is not equal to) the ordinal number (=3)of the 3rd LED drive apparatus 12. Simultaneously, for the 2nd LEDmodule 10, the 2nd LED drive apparatus 12 identifies the light mode datasince the sequence of the light mode data meets (is equal to) theordinal number (=2) of the 2nd LED drive apparatus 12. At thiscondition, the light mode B is identified, and then the 2nd LED driveapparatus 12 controls the LEDs 11 of the 2nd LED module 10 to workaccording to the light mode B. Simultaneously, for the 1st LED module10, the 1st LED drive apparatus 12 does not identify the light mode dataand does not control the LEDs 11 of the 1st LED module 10 since thesequence (=3) of the light mode data does not meet (is not equal to) theordinal number (=1) of the 1st LED drive apparatus 12.

As described above, only the first three LED modules 10 are described asexamples for dynamic transmission of the light mode data, reception andrecognition of each of the LED drive apparatuses 12, and control of theLEDs 11. The operation of the subsequent LED modules 10 is the same asthat of the first three LED modules 10 and the detail description isomitted here for conciseness. Accordingly, the corresponding LEDs 11 arecontrolled to work according to the light mode data when the sequence ofthe light mode data meets the ordinal number of the LED driveapparatuses 12.

TABLE 1 sequence of 1 2 3 4 . . . 35 . . . 48 49 50 the light mode datathe light A B A C . . . A . . . B A C mode data before change the lightA B A C . . . B . . . B A C mode data after change

Moreover, it is assumed that the LEDs 11 in the 35th LED module 10 needto be changed their light modes, and therefore the LED drive apparatus12 of the 35th LED module 10 receives different light mode data. Forexample, the LED drive apparatus 12 of the 35th LED module 10 having theordinal number of 35 receives the light mode data after change that is B(the light mode data before change that is A). Also, the LEDs 11 in theLED modules 10 which do not need to be changed their light modes receivethe same light mode data. For example, except the 35th LED module 10,other LED modules 10 receive the same light mode data as the light modedata before change. Accordingly, through the persistence of vision, thephenomenon seen by the human is that the light mode of the 1st to 34thLED modules 10 and the light mode of the 36th to 50th LED modules 10have not changed, but the light mode of the 35th LED module 10 haschanged (for example, from continuously bright to flickering). Inparticular, the light mode data received by the LED module 10 may bestored in a register or a memory thereof.

Accordingly, the burning manner without address data can be realized,and the LEDs 11 of the LED modules 10 can be also correctly controlled.

In addition, the light mode data has an end code or has a start code andan end code as a mark for determining the end or start of the light modedata. As shown in table 2 and table 3, they are examples of adding theend code and adding the start code and the end code respectively totable 1.

TABLE 2 sequence of 1 2 3 4 . . . 35 . . . 48 49 50 the light mode datathe light A B A C . . . A . . . B A C Z mode data before change thelight A B A C . . . B . . . B A C Z mode data after change

As shown in table 2, the end code is, for example but not limited to,represented by “Z”, and it can also be represented by other symbols ornumbers that are sufficiently separated. When the “Z” of the light modedata is transmitted from the controller 20, it indicates that all thenumber of the light mode data have been completely transmitted. Untilthe next time that the LEDs 11 need to change their light modes, thecontroller 20 will transmit new light mode data again.

TABLE 3 sequence of 1 2 3 4 . . . 35 . . . 48 49 50 the light mode datathe light X A B A C . . . A . . . B A C Z mode data before change thelight X A B A C . . . B . . . B A C Z mode data after change

As shown in table 3, the start code is, for example but not limited to,represented by “X” and the end code is, for example but not limited to,represented by “Z”, and they can also be represented by other symbols ornumbers that are sufficiently separated. When the “X” of the light modedata is transmitted from the controller 20, it indicates that the 1stlight mode data will be transmitted next the start code. When the “Z” ofthe light mode data is transmitted from the controller 20, it indicatesthat all the number of the light mode data have been completelytransmitted. Until the next time that the LEDs 11 need to change theirlight modes, the controller 20 will transmit new light mode data again.

Moreover, if two or more LED modules 10 need to be simultaneouslychanged their light modes, for example the 4th, 35th, and 48th LEDmodules 10 need to be simultaneously changed their light modes, thecontroller 20 transmits the light mode data with different light modesto the 4th LED module 10 (for example from light mode C to light modeD), to the 35th LED module 10 (for example from light mode A to lightmode B), and to the 48th LED module 10 (for example from light mode B tolight mode C). Also, the controller 20 transmits the light mode datawith the same light mode to other LED modules 10. Therefore, the effectof changing the light mode of the plurality of LED modules 10 can berealized, as shown in table 4.

TABLE 4 sequence of 1 2 3 4 . . . 35 . . . 48 49 50 the light mode datathe light X A B A C . . . A . . . B A C Z mode data before change thelight X A B A D . . . B . . . C A C Z mode data after change

Moreover, if the LEDs 11 in the 35th LED module 10 need to be changedtheir light modes, and therefore the LED drive apparatus 12 of the 35thLED module 10 receives different light mode data. For example, the LEDdrive apparatus 12 of the 35th LED module 10 having the ordinal numberof 35 receives the light mode data after change that is B (the lightmode data before change that is A). Also, the LEDs 11 in the LED modules10 which do not need to be changed their light modes receive thespecific light mode data, for example but not limited to “R”. Therefore,as long as the specific light mode data is recognized, it means that theLED modules 10 that receive the specific light mode data do not changetheir light modes, as shown in table 5.

TABLE 5 sequence of 1 2 3 4 . . . 35 . . . 48 49 50 the light mode datathe light A B A C . . . A . . . B A C Z mode data before change thelight R R R R . . . B . . . R R R Z mode data after change

The second embodiment: the controller 20 sequentially transmits aplurality of light mode data whose number is equal to the target numberto each of the LED modules 10 such as that the controller 20sequentially transmits the plurality of light mode data whose number isthe maximum ordinal number of the LED modules 10 that need to be changedtheir light modes. In this embodiment, the end code or the start codeand the end code involved in the light data mode are similar to thefirst embodiment (as shown in table 2 and table 3), different light modedata received by the LED modules which need to change their light modesand the same light mode data received by the LED modules which do notneed to change their light modes are similar to the first embodiment (asshown in table 1 to table 4), and different light mode data received bythe LED modules which need to change their light modes and the specificlight mode data received by the LED modules which do not need to changetheir light modes are similar to the first embodiment (as shown in table5). Therefore, the same technical features as the foregoing firstembodiment will not be described herein.

If the LEDs 11 in the 4th LED module 10 need to be changed their lightmodes, the controller 20 transmits the light mode data whose number is 4(that is equal to the target number=4, if the start code “X” and the endcode “Z” are not involved) at once as shown in table 6. Since themaximum ordinal number of the LEDs 11 in the LED module 10 that need tobe changed their light modes is 4, the controller 20 only transmits thelight mode data whose number is 4 and further the end code “Z” as themark for determining the end of the light mode data. In other words, itis not necessary to transmit the same or specific light mode data to theLED modules 10 which do not need to be changed their light modes afterthe 4th LED module 10 so that the data amount of the light mode data canbe reduced.

TABLE 6 sequence of 1 2 3 4 . . . 35 . . . 48 49 50 the light mode datathe light X A B A C . . . A . . . B A C Z mode data before change thelight X A B A D Z mode data after change

Moreover, if two or more LED modules 10 need to be simultaneouslychanged their light modes, for example the 4th and 35th LED modules 10need to be simultaneously changed their light modes, the controller 20transmits the light mode data whose number is 35 (that is equal to thetarget number=35, if the start code “X” and the end code “Z” are notinvolved) at once as shown in table 7. Since the maximum ordinal numberof the LEDs 11 in the LED module 10 that need to be changed their lightmodes is 35, the controller 20 only transmits the light mode data whosenumber is 35 and further the end code “Z” as the mark for determiningthe end of the light mode data. In other words, it is not necessary totransmit the same or specific light mode data to the LED modules 10which do not need to be changed their light modes after the 35th LEDmodule 10 so that the data amount of the light mode data can be reduced.Accordingly, the burning manner without address data can be realized,and the LEDs 11 of the LED modules 10 can be also correctly controlled.

TABLE 7 sequence of 1 2 3 4 . . . 35 . . . 48 49 50 the light mode datathe light X A B A C . . . A . . . B A C Z mode data before change thelight X A B A D . . . B Z mode data after change

Please refer to FIG. 4A, which shows a schematic waveform of a workingvoltage for the pixel-controlled LED light string according to thepresent disclosure. Also, FIG. 4B is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 4A.The two-wire pixel-controlled LED light string 100 is controlled througha working voltage generated by controlling an output control switch (notshown) by a controller. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the working voltage islower than an identifiable low-level voltage Vlow, the working voltageis as an effective voltage for controlling the LED modules 10. Further,a set of voltage with a plurality of effective control voltages aregenerated to control light mode data of the LED module 10. Therefore,multiple sets of voltages are transmitted by the controller 20 tocontrol light mode data of the LED modules 10.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which shows a flowchart of a method of operatingthe pixel-controlled LED light string according to the presentdisclosure. The pixel-controlled LED light includes a plurality of LEDmodules 10 and a controller 20. Each of the LED modules 10 includes atleast one LED 11 and a LED drive apparatus with burning function 12. TheLED drive apparatus 12 burns an ordinal number according to connectionsequence thereof. The operating method includes steps as follows. First,the controller 20 defines the ordinal number of the LED modules 10 whichneed to be changed their light modes as a target number, andsequentially transmits a plurality of light mode data whose number isgreater than or equal to the target number to each of the LED modules 10(S10). The LED modules have physical electrical connections when the LEDmodules 10 are assembled, but the LED modules 10 have not been numbered.Therefore, the LED drive apparatuses with burning function 12 are usedto burn the ordinal number to number the LED modules 10 so that thesequence of the LED modules 10 of the assembled pixel-controlled LEDlight string 100 is clearly defined. For example, it is assumed that thenumber of the LED modules 10 is 50 and the 50 LED modules 10 areconnected in series. Therefore, the ordinal number of the LED driveapparatus 12 of the 1st LED module 10 is 1, the ordinal number of theLED drive apparatus 12 of the 2nd LED module 10 is 2, and so on.Finally, the ordinal number of the LED drive apparatus 12 of the 50thLED module 10 is 50. Accordingly, each LED module 10 has its own uniqueidentification ordinal number after the ordinal numbers of the LEDmodules 10 are defined.

Afterward, the LED drive apparatuses 12 sequentially receive each of thelight mode data and count sequence of the light mode data (S20). Thecontroller 20 sequentially transmits the plurality of light mode datawhose number is greater than the target number to each of the LEDmodules 10 such as that the controller 20 sequentially transmits theplurality of light mode data whose number is equal to the number of theLED modules 10. Alternatively, the controller 20 sequentially transmitsthe plurality of light mode data whose number is equal to the targetnumber to each of the LED modules 10 such as that the controller 20sequentially transmits the plurality of light mode data whose number isthe maximum ordinal number of the LED modules 10 that need to be changedtheir light modes. The light mode data has an end code or has a startcode and an end code as a mark for determining the end or start of thelight mode data. Therefore, the controller 20 transmits the plurality oflight mode data to control the LEDs 11 in one or more LED modules 10 tochange their light modes.

Afterward, if the sequence of the light mode data meets (is equal to)the ordinal number of the LED drive apparatus 12, the LED driveapparatuses 12 identify the light mode data (S30). Finally, afteridentifying the light mode data, the LED drive apparatuses 12 controlthe corresponding LEDs 11 (S40). The LED modules 10 perform lightoperations according to the received light mode data. Accordingly, theburning manner without address data can be realized, and the LEDs 11 ofthe LED modules 10 can be also correctly controlled.

In conclusion, the present disclosure has following features andadvantages:

1. The LED modules have physical electrical connections when the LEDmodules 10 are assembled and the LED drive apparatuses with burningfunction 12 are used to burn the ordinal number to number the LEDmodules 10 so that the sequence of the LED modules 10 of the assembledpixel-controlled LED light string 100 is clearly defined.

2. The burning manner without address data can be realized by countingthe ordinal number to acquire the light mode data so that the LEDs 11 ofthe LED modules 10 can be also correctly controlled.

3. The number of the light mode data transmitted by the controller 20 isequal to the maximum ordinal number of the LEDs 11 in the LED module 10that need to be changed their light modes, thereby reducing the dataamount of the light mode data.

4. Two-wire and three-wire LED modules can be used to increase theadaption, diversification, and flexibility of the pixel-controlled LEDlight string.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the presentdisclosure is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutionsand modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, andothers will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, allsuch substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced withinthe scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pixel-controlled LED light string, comprising:a plurality of LED modules electrically connected to each other, eachLED module comprising: at least one LED, and a LED drive apparatus withburning function coupled to the at least one LED and the LED driveapparatus configured to burn an ordinal number according to connectionsequence of the LED drive apparatus, and a controller electricallyconnected to the LED modules, wherein the controller is configured todefine the ordinal number of the LED module as a target number forchanging a light mode of the LED module, and the controller sequentiallytransmits a plurality of light mode data whose number is greater than orequal to the target number to each of the LED modules, wherein each ofthe LED drive apparatuses is configured to sequentially receive each ofthe light mode data and count sequence of the light mode data, if thesequence of the light mode data is equal to the ordinal number of theLED drive apparatus, the LED drive apparatuses are configured toidentify the light mode data, and after identifying the light mode data,the LED drive apparatuses are configured to control the corresponding atleast one LED.
 2. The pixel-controlled LED light string in claim 1,wherein each LED module comprises: a positive power end and a negativepower end, and a data signal end, wherein the data signal ends of theplurality of LED modules are configured to receive the plurality oflight mode data, wherein the positive power ends of the plurality of LEDmodules are connected to each other and configured to receive a positivepower provided from the controller, wherein the negative power ends ofthe plurality of LED modules are connected to each other and configuredto receive a negative power provided from the controller.
 3. Thepixel-controlled LED light string in claim 1, wherein each LED modulecomprises: a positive power end and a negative power end, and a datasignal end, wherein the data signal ends of the plurality of LED modulesare configured to receive the plurality of light mode data, wherein thepositive power end of the first LED module is configured to receive apositive power provided from the controller and the negative power endof the last LED module is configured to receive a negative powerprovided from the controller, and the remaining LED modules are coupledin series by connecting the positive power end of the latter to thenegative power end of the former.
 4. The pixel-controlled LED lightstring in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate aworking voltage and transmit the light mode data to each of the LEDmodules by changing magnitude of the working voltage.
 5. Thepixel-controlled LED light string in claim 2, wherein the controller isconfigured to control a voltage drop of the working voltage, wherein theworking voltage is less than a low-level voltage and transmit the lightmode data to the LED modules.
 6. The pixel-controlled LED light stringin claim 1, wherein the light mode data is a data number that is equalto the number of the LED modules.
 7. The pixel-controlled LED lightstring in claim 1, wherein the light mode data is a data number that isequal to the maximum ordinal number of the LED modules whose light modesneed to be changed.
 8. The pixel-controlled LED light string in claim 1,wherein the LED modules whose light modes need to be changed areconfigured to receive different light mode data, the same light modedata, or a specific light mode data.
 9. The pixel-controlled LED lightstring in claim 1, wherein the light mode data has an end code or has astart code and an end code.
 10. The pixel-controlled LED light string inclaim 1, wherein each of the LED drive apparatuses is burned by acontact burning or a non-contact burning.
 11. A method of operating apixel-controlled LED light string, the pixel-controlled LED lightcomprising a plurality of LED modules and a controller, wherein each LEDmodule comprises at least one LED and a LED drive apparatus with burningfunction, and the LED drive apparatus is configured to burn an ordinalnumber according to connection sequence of the LED drive apparatus, themethod comprising steps of: defining, by the controller, the ordinalnumber of the LED modules as a target number for changing a light modeof the LED module, and sequentially transmitting, by the controller, aplurality of light mode data whose number is greater than or equal tothe target number to each of the LED modules, sequentially receiving, bythe LED drive apparatuses, each of the light mode data and countingsequence of the light mode data, identifying, by the LED driveapparatuses, the light mode data if the sequence of the light mode datais equal to the ordinal number of the LED drive apparatus, andcontrolling, by the LED drive apparatuses, the corresponding at leastone LED.
 12. The method of operating the pixel-controlled LED lightstring in claim 11, wherein each LED module comprises: a positive powerend and a negative power end, and a data signal end, wherein the datasignal ends of the plurality of LED modules are configured to receivethe plurality of light mode data, wherein the positive power ends of theplurality of LED modules are connected to each other and configured toreceive a positive power provided from the controller, wherein thenegative power ends of the plurality of LED modules are connected toeach other and configured to receive a negative power provided from thecontroller.
 13. The method of operating the pixel-controlled LED lightstring in claim 11, wherein each LED module comprises: a positive powerend and a negative power end, and a data signal end, wherein the datasignal ends of the plurality of LED modules are configured to receivethe plurality of light mode data, wherein the positive power end of thefirst LED module is configured to receive a positive power provided fromthe controller and the negative power end of the last LED module isconfigured to receive a negative power provided from the controller, andthe remaining LED modules are coupled in series by connecting thepositive power end of the latter to the negative power end of theformer.
 14. The method of operating the pixel-controlled LED lightstring in claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to generate aworking voltage and transmit the light mode data to each of the LEDmodules by changing magnitude of the working voltage.
 15. The method ofoperating the pixel-controlled LED light string in claim 11, wherein thecontroller is configured to control a voltage drop of the workingvoltage, wherein the working voltage is less than a low-level voltageand transmit the light mode data to the LED modules.
 16. The method ofoperating the pixel-controlled LED light string in claim 11, wherein thelight mode data is a data number that is equal to the number of the LEDmodules.
 17. The method of operating the pixel-controlled LED lightstring in claim 11, wherein the light mode data is a data number that isequal to the maximum ordinal number of the LED modules whose light modesneed to be changed.
 18. The method of operating the pixel-controlled LEDlight string in claim 11, wherein the LED modules whose light modes needto be changed are configured to receive different light mode data, thesame light mode data, or a specific light mode data.
 19. The method ofoperating the pixel-controlled LED light string in claim 11, wherein thelight mode data has an end code or has a start code and an end code. 20.The method of operating the pixel-controlled LED light string in claim11, wherein each of the LED drive apparatuses is burned by a contactburning or a non-contact burning.